"Commentary: Time to depoliticize Oceanside airport"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Friday, May 11, 2007

Commentary
Time to depoliticize Oceanside airport 
By RONALD J. COZAD
The San Diego (CA) North County Times


The city of Oceanside understandably lacks the expertise to run a single
airport in its spare time. This is painfully obvious.

On the other hand, San Diego County operates an eight-airport system with a
highly skilled director of airports and a staff of leasing agents, engineers
and airport managers. The county has demonstrated it can effectively manage
the needs of the airport users, local residents and the businesses that
stand to thrive with access to a professionally run local airport. Within
the county's airport system are local advisory groups composed of community
members, noise oversight representatives and people devoted to addressing
the specialized issues airports present. For the price of a tank of gas,
anyone can visit each of the county's airports, including McClellan-Palomar,
Gillespie Field, Fallbrook and Ramona, and see what a well-run airport can
do to invigorate its host city and neighboring communities.

Unfortunately, the city of Oceanside has allowed its airport to become
embroiled in local political infighting that has nothing to do with the
airport. By contracting with the county, Oceanside can utilize the county's
extensive resources and remove the airport from battles among the local
politicos and move on to the real business of cleaning up its spotty
downtown, its gang problems, the Oceanside Boulevard corridor and dealing
with the challenges presented by the negotiations with the Chargers. For a
lot of reasons, Oceanside has fallen behind its coastal neighbors to the
north and to the south -- most of which don't have airports. By
depoliticizing its airport, Oceanside will be well on its way to
modernization and supporting a local economy capable of paying for
first-class police and fire service, supporting local tourism and earning
the title of an earnest vacation and business destination.
 
A little vision and imagination is all that is required. Imagine a small
Spanish-mission-style terminal with local art, a restaurant and a viewing
deck. Visitors can bring their children to watch airplanes arrive from
throughout Southern California carrying guests seeking an easy and fun beach
getaway. Perhaps a carefully selected airplane ride vendor can be enticed to
locate there. Because the airport is only steps from downtown hotels and the
beach, visitors can rent bicycles and ride the trail to the sand and
downtown business centers. The attraction and contribution to the city's
overall experience becomes clear. A well-designed and efficiently run
airport, one where the current facility languishes, will redefine Oceanside
in many positive ways -- but only if the airport is depoliticized and
fostered with care and conviction.

Bonsall resident Ronald J. Cozad is a Carlsbad-based attorney who
specializes in airport-related businesses and issues, and is a member of the
Oceanside Airport Association, a nonprofit group that promotes the airport.

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